Chapter 67: Chapter 67

Annabelle's POV

The girls worked on my hair and make-up. They helped me with the wedding dress. I couldn't believe that the glowing bride in the mirror was really me. Gran, mom, and Margaret came inside. She had arrived with Donald and Diana this morning.

"You look gorgeous and enchanting, my dear. It has always been my dream to see you in your wedding dress getting married to my Stefan." Gran said, wiping her tears of joy. "God bless you, you made my dream come true." She was much better and could participate in her physiotherapy sessions more flexibly. She gave me beautiful earrings and a matching pendant set in platinum encrusted with delicate diamonds. "This belonged to Stefan's mother Miriam, I want you to have it, Anna, wear it today dear," she said smiling.

Mom clasped the earrings and jewelry on my ears and neck. The teardrop shape and dazzling diamonds shone brilliantly as they reflected the lights falling on them.

"They're exquisite gran, thank you," I said as I admired the jewelry which matched my wedding dress and hairstyle perfectly.

"Anna, be still, let me fix this to your hair," Claire said as she deposited a gurgling baby Alexander on gran's lap and picked up a small white flower band accessory to attach to my bun. The front of my hair was braided and pinned. The whole updo looked so stunning with a few strands escaping from it to frame my face. Thanks to Claire.

Margaret looked on with a smile of admiration on her face. Last month we had grown close to one another. She and my siblings had become my family. They arrived directly at the venue after I had sent the tickets to them. Stefan got Donald his first tuxedo and he was ecstatic. I bought Margaret and Diana their gowns from the same boutique that we bought our dresses from.

Amelia helped Claire with my hair and dress while Cassandra helped Arielle dress up as a flower girl. Margaret got Diana ready to accompany Arielle as my flower girl. She was dressed similarly to Arielle. Donald was getting ready with Stefan and his groomsmen. He would be my ring bearer.

Gran was ready, wearing the dress Amelia got for her.

"Mommy, you are beautiful, " said Arielle, kissing my cheek as she pulled me down to her level.

"Thank you, sweetie. You look beautiful too," I told her and she squealed with delight.

"Stefan wouldn't be able to take his eyes off you," whispered Claire and I blushed.

"Are you nervous?" She asked me.

"A little. I just hope that I don't trip," I told her and she laughed.

"That's a concern all brides have, I guess," said Claire with a laugh. Amelia too joined us giving me the final touches to my total outfit. Claire checked my hair. I smiled at all their fussing.

I met Amelia 3 weeks ago when I went to her boutique "Bridal Blush" as suggested by mom regarding my wedding gown. We had taken a liking to each other immediately. We had all our wedding dresses designed by her and stitched from her boutique. We bonded well with each other. She agreed to be my bridesmaid.

Three weeks ago flashback

Tristan stop, this is it, I think," I said as I saw the shop, and Tristan smoothly brought the car to a stop in front of the huge glass facade of an extravagant wedding attire shop. Stefan had left for Rome last night on work, so Tristan helped me and mom with the wedding preparations.

I got down as Tristan went to park his car. I went up the marble steps and the uniformed door attendants opened the ornate door to show a huge showroom in pastel yellow and white counters with mannequins in exquisite bridal wear and accessories.

A smiling young attendant came forward to greet me, "Good morning, ma'am, what would you like to see?" She said courteously.

"Hello, I'm Annabelle Carter. I had an appointment with Ms. Amelia McGrath for my wedding gown designs." I said smiling.

A beautiful woman of around my age, with long, waist-length, straight, thick, dirty blonde hair left untied and light grey eyes, long curled thick eyelashes, arched eyebrows, and a perfect heart-shaped face with pink bow-shaped lips and creamy complexion came forward wearing a burgundy skirt and white lace top and matching stilettos, towards me and put her hand forward to greet me.

"Hello, I am Amelia McGrath, owner of 'Bridal Blush'. I saw you coming while having the display windows decorated. Please come to my office. We can discuss the designs there," she said stiffly, her eyes avoiding mine. I noticed that her behavior was quite abnormal but I decided to overlook it and get on with the designs.

She led the way to her office above, with wall-to-wall glass windows overlooking the road. We sat down with some designs that she might have prepared for me.

"Ms. Carter, when is your wedding?" She asked formally.

"Please call me Anna. My wedding is on the 5th of next month, three weeks from now," I answered.

"Alright then there would be enough time to get your dress ready," She said sadly, looking up at me for the first time. "Your groom did not come?" She asked.

"No, he's busy," It was strange that she asked for Stefan. Maybe she knew him.

Just then, Tristan barged in and he froze at the spot. Amelia looked at him and then at me and then looked down concentrating on her designs, not looking up once.

Tristan came and sat beside me, staring at Amelia like he was in a trance. I was amused. What was going on?

"Tris, which one do you like? Help me choose," I said, smacking his arm to bring him back to reality.

"Yeah, this one," he looked and pointed at a beautiful off-shoulder tulle wedding dress with a corseted satin bodice. I too had loved it.

"Thanks, you're the best," I looked at Amelia as she fidgeted with her fingers under Tristan's intense gaze. "I want this one too."

"Ok, I will take your measurements. Do you want me to do it here in front of your groom or will you come with me to the trial area?" She asked, her doe eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"No, not here. Let's go to your trial area," I said as I suddenly realized that she called Tristan my groom. Uh oh! I needed to correct her.

"Go ahead, I'm waiting here," Tristan said, flicking through a wedding magazine absentmindedly.

We went to the trial area and as she took measurements and wrote them down, I said,"My groom didn't accompany me. He's in Rome." I said.

"I didn't get you. You are getting married to Tristan, right?" She asked in confusion.

"Tristan?" I asked in confusion, "Oh, no no, I'm getting married to Tristan's brother Stefan. How do you know Tristan?" I asked her wondering if something was going on between them.

She let out a deep breath, her eyes looking into mine as she suddenly grinned at me."You're not marrying Tristan?" She asked, looking relieved.

"No, Tristan is like my brother. Well, how do you know each other?" I said smiling.

"We went to the same school. He was senior to me though. Then I was sent away to boarding school in England and we lost contact," She said as she completed taking the measurements.

I realized this was Amelia, the one Tristan had told me about, the one and only girl whom he loved. With that realization, I went back to her office. Tristan wasn't there, so I just waited for Amelia, while checking the bridal accessories that would go with my dress.

After half an hour, Amelia came in with flushed cheeks and a small grin on her face. "I'm sorry to keep you waiting, Anna," She said.

"That's ok. I would like to buy these accessories also," I told her, indicating the ones I wanted.

I paid for everything as Tristan came in, his eyes instantly checking out Amelia from head to toe. I took Amelia's number and called out to Tristan.

"Tris, let's go. I'm done here," He continued to lean against the door and watch Amelia much to my amusement.

"Tris, stop daydreaming. I have her number," I whispered to him as I passed him, on my way out.

With pink cheeks, he followed me to the car park and I chuckled.

He was too nice and attentive to me for a whole week, so I gave him Amelia's number and also invited her to my wedding.

End of flashback